He just looks so happy! Going off to work with a big smile on my face. Thanks for all the updates. So glad it has all worked out.

Carol & DillonFriend for Life

Joined: 06 Nov 2009
Posts: 1036
Location: Sutton Coldfield

Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:34 am

He does look a happy boy and seems to have settled in well. He looks very much like the Briard our friends in France rescued, he was a lot smaller than he should have been as he was just feed on stale bread most of his young life.

Judging from his behaviour, size, fur, agility etc., I think he definitely has Beardie in him and probably no Briard at all. (I've had several Beardies, so do recognise the difference!) but it doesn't matter, he's adorable.

He is a very cuddly dog and I think can't believe his luck!

He's currently sitting on my lap!

_________________Debs, Della, Dibley, Demi and Desmond (not forgetting my special girl Darcy and Dexter the most chilled boy ever who will be in my heart forever)

jdrrcoMaster Friend

Joined: 04 Dec 2008
Posts: 278
Location: Appletreewick

Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:15 pm

Great video! Lovely to see him so happy and settled already. He certainly doesn't move like a briard, but who cares! Just so good to see him having fun.

_________________Debs, Della, Dibley, Demi and Desmond (not forgetting my special girl Darcy and Dexter the most chilled boy ever who will be in my heart forever)

lizannesleyMaster Friend

Joined: 09 Jan 2005
Posts: 493
Location: Birmingham,England

Posted:
Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:22 pm

Do you know what age Shaggy is? Love the videos.....think it's funny how it just seems to be those two playing. The others just hang around and watch!? What are they thinking..."silly youngsters"? Great to see them having fun together.

Carol & DillonFriend for Life

Joined: 06 Nov 2009
Posts: 1036
Location: Sutton Coldfield

Posted:
Sat Mar 22, 2014 4:20 pm

Lovely videos, he really has settled in well with his new friends.

maxnickFriend for Life

Joined: 16 Aug 2011
Posts: 959
Location: Cornwall

Posted:
Sat Mar 22, 2014 8:05 pm

Oh Wow, absolutely gorgeous. He seems quite well socialised already, considering. They seem to get on like a house on fire. Just lovely to watch.

I'm as bad as a Briard for nosiness, Just saw the thread and here I am.... lol

DebsFriend for Life

Joined: 27 Feb 2005
Posts: 836
Location: Wiltshire

Posted:
Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:51 am

Demz is 10 months old. I think Shaggy is 9 or 10 months.
The other Briards do just tend to stand and watch unless they play too closely, then they try to join in in true Briard style but I don't let it happen as it can all go wrong too quickly.
Shaggy has also played with Della but Della gets too enthusiastic so it has to be for short periods.
Dibley is in season at the moment so no playing going on there as she's grumpy.
Dexter just watches the world go by - he's 12 now but still has a play with Demi every day, altho seems to have other things to think about at the moment with Dibley being in season.
Shaggy is such a friendly dog, just loves people. I've put him into all sorts of situations and he just deals with it and constantly wags his tail.
He's coming to training classes with me today and tomorrow, so I shall see whats he's like in that environment. I think he will love it as he just loves the attention and to learn new things.
Thats it for now......

_________________Debs, Della, Dibley, Demi and Desmond (not forgetting my special girl Darcy and Dexter the most chilled boy ever who will be in my heart forever)

ZizouFriend for Life

Joined: 23 Nov 2010
Posts: 874
Location: Surrey

Posted:
Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:00 pm

Zizou was socialised with so many different breeds. Nice to know Shaggy is cracking on. Cheers. Forgot to say, you found out what he is crossed with yet.? The only Briard cross I know is a Beardie x Briard. Now he is one fabulous boy. Free from Battersea. All grey. Zizou loves him.

DebsFriend for Life

Joined: 27 Feb 2005
Posts: 836
Location: Wiltshire

Posted:
Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:20 pm

I keep looking at Shaggy trying to decide his breed from his behaviour/looks etc. My latest thoughts are that he looks very much like a Catalan Sheepdog. I don't believe there is any Briard in him at all.
There are so many crosses he could be but looking at the pictures of Catalans, I think that is the closest to what he is. His tail is a very confusing thing - its more like a retrievers tail than anything else. Not sure what Catalans tails are like - more research required!
I am tempted to say he has some lurcher in him though as he is rather into things that move, birds, cats, anything really.
Still, he's gorgeous whatever he is

_________________Debs, Della, Dibley, Demi and Desmond (not forgetting my special girl Darcy and Dexter the most chilled boy ever who will be in my heart forever)

ZizouFriend for Life

Joined: 23 Nov 2010
Posts: 874
Location: Surrey

Posted:
Tue Mar 25, 2014 2:58 pm

Catalans are lush And I know a super beardie lurcher. Och, whatever he turn out to be, LUSH hahahaha

Ruth RichardsonFriend for Life

Joined: 13 Jul 2005
Posts: 1061
Location: St Helens

Posted:
Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:01 pm

We have a Catalan sheepdog at Hugo's class. He's fawn and looks very much like a smaller briard. Shaggy's size does suggest beardie or Catalan sheepdog, but his face looked very Briard-like in some of those photos. Still, who cares what he is. He's gorgeous and, even if he wasn't such a lovely-looking dog, he would still deserve his second chance.

ZizouFriend for Life

Joined: 23 Nov 2010
Posts: 874
Location: Surrey

Posted:
Wed Mar 26, 2014 3:53 pm

I think the longer you have dogs, the more different types just steal your heart. I love a, let's see: JRT x Dachshund x Lord knows what else. Big Batley. His is the boss of Zizou's gang of pals. And there is also Big Boris: a chihuahua, and wee Charlie--a Great Dane. Love them all. Great dogs.

Ruth RichardsonFriend for Life

Joined: 13 Jul 2005
Posts: 1061
Location: St Helens

Posted:
Wed Mar 26, 2014 8:25 pm

Yes, well, as I mentioned on a different thread, I grew up with a mongrel. Looking back at photos of her now, I realise she wasn't the best-looking dog in the world, but we thought she was beautiful!

DebsFriend for Life

Joined: 27 Feb 2005
Posts: 836
Location: Wiltshire

Posted:
Fri Mar 28, 2014 4:44 pm

I've just uploaded a new picky of Shaggy. He now knows what STAY means. His full repertoire now includes Sit, Down, Shake hands, Spins in a circle, Hand touching with his nose, and Stay. He also now knows the meaning of OFF.....which is said fairly regularly!

Having done some more research, I have decided if Shaggy is a pedigree (we'll never know) he's a Pyrenean Shepherd dog. Have a look on Google Images at those and you'll see what I mean. I think he fits into that breed size wise, character etc too.

_________________Debs, Della, Dibley, Demi and Desmond (not forgetting my special girl Darcy and Dexter the most chilled boy ever who will be in my heart forever)

Ossie's JillMaster Friend

Joined: 23 Jul 2005
Posts: 365
Location: East Sussex

Posted:
Fri Mar 28, 2014 6:05 pm

Not that I can see any reason that it matters at all apart from curiosity but you can have DNA tests done on dogs to find out their breed(s)..

_________________RIP Ossie, best of dogs best of friends

jdrrcoMaster Friend

Joined: 04 Dec 2008
Posts: 278
Location: Appletreewick

Posted:
Fri Mar 28, 2014 9:39 pm

If he knows the meaning of "stay" and "off", he's definitely not a briard!!

Well the lovely Waggy Shaggy has just ten minutes ago left me for his new forever home in Yorkshire with Nikki (who I believe has signed up to this website)

He's been such a happy boy since he's been here and a character and a pleasure to have. Demi will miss her constant playmate for the last 3 1/2 weeks.

Well done Nikki on giving him a fab home. fantastic. We'll miss him.

xxx

_________________Debs, Della, Dibley, Demi and Desmond (not forgetting my special girl Darcy and Dexter the most chilled boy ever who will be in my heart forever)

lizannesleyMaster Friend

Joined: 09 Jan 2005
Posts: 493
Location: Birmingham,England

Posted:
Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:31 pm

How exciting....bittersweet for your household, Debs. I really do hope Nikki keeps us informed. He means a lot to so many. Thank you again for all You've done in his remarkable journey, as well as your 4 legged family members!

Brenda WilkinsonFriend for Life

Joined: 09 Apr 2005
Posts: 646
Location: Lancashire

Posted:
Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:44 pm

That's great news a human all of his own. Good job done Debs he's one lucky boy. I do hope Nikki posts some pictures and updates for all to see.

_________________Brenda Kari-Ann Rigsby and Elsa

gailFriend for Life

Joined: 20 Aug 2005
Posts: 830

Posted:
Sun Apr 13, 2014 3:28 pm

This is brilliant news, he landed on all for paws when he went to you Debs and your pack, and now a forever home. Well done to rescue and everyone involved in getting Shaggy here.
Gail

Ruth RichardsonFriend for Life

Joined: 13 Jul 2005
Posts: 1061
Location: St Helens

Posted:
Mon Apr 14, 2014 3:44 pm

What a lovely, happy ending to his sad start in life. I'm sure he's got a wonderful future ahead of him. Well done to all those who helped give him this new chance. And Nikki, we will all look forward to updates!

Nikki dogwalkerFriend in Training

Joined: 26 Mar 2014
Posts: 26

Posted:
Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:10 am

Hi Everyone,

just a quick post at this point, but wanted to introduce myself - I'm new and a bit of a technoidiot, but will do my best.

I'm Nikki and am Shaggy's new mum. I'm afraid I had to change his name as there is no way on God's earth I am standing in the middle of a field yelling "Shag"! - a few years ago it may have resulted in an offer, nowadays, more likely an arrest! So, he is the artist formerly known as "Shaggy" who has now been rechristened "Marlowe", hope you approve.

As to his progress, he has been a little star. He went into the cage in the van without a hint of protest and I never heard a peep out of him throughout the 4 1/2 hr journey back to Yorkshire. We stopped at a walk that we use near home so that he could have a ping round before we arrived, and he dutifully performed the necessaries. and then got happily back in the van.

We got home about 8, and made introductions to his new "little, big brother" Patch - 13 1/2 year old jack russell x corgi (my only attempt at fostering - he came for a fortnight 9 1/2 years ago!), who was suitably unimpressed with zebedee on speed, and established that size and status are definately a state of mind! - Marlowe just agreed that Patch was in charge and all went swimmingly.

We then had about 500 phone calls, texts etc to respond to as half of Harrogate was on tenterhooks waiting for him to arrive. We finally got to bed about midnight when he went into the cage, settled down and I didn't hear anything from him until I got up.

Yesterday he had two long walks (Just for info, I'm a dogwalker by trade - 14 years now and completed my companion animal behaviour post grad about 5 years ago), the first in the company of my friend and her two bedlingtons, the delicate "Mouse" and the terrierist "Teddy" (who I think is going to be a bestest friend), and then later on one of my work walks with - Luna (weim), Rosie (choccy lab) and her brother Stanley (cockerpoo with standard poodle mum), and Jack (border collie), and my friend Linda with her lab Alfie.

Everyone we know was waiting to meet him, so he did loads of the old ambassador bit, and since we knew everyone he had a couple of spells off lead. He isn't certain of his name yet, but as soon as he grasps you're talking to him, he bounds over. I took the clicker with me and so we did recall on and off the lead, he's going to be such a good boy.

We then popped into the vets on the way back to register him and introduce him - the vet nurses and receptionists made a huge fuss of him. We also weighed him and he is now 19.9kg, which compared to the 17.5 he was when Debs got him is a testament to her fantastic care.

I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who has been involved in bringing me my new boy, I can't begin to say how grateful I am, and I promise to keep you posted - will post photos as soon as my tecchie next door neighbour gets back from holiday and shows me how!

A special thanks to Sheila and Roy, and Debs. it was lovely to meet them all on Sunday as we have been in contact form some time, and I was made very welcome.

I had my first rescue briard through Sheila in 2000, who spookily turned out to be litter brother to Deb's beloved Darcy, and bred by her good friends Sonia and Howard - who I also got to meet again after 14 years.

I then had a second rescue briard 6 months after the first, who I lost at the age of13 1/2 last August.

Having been briardless since then, it was an incredible treat to sit drinking tea in Debs garden with 6 briards, Sheilas golden retriever and "himself"!! Though her old boy Dex was so like my old boy Morgan in temperament, I may have wiped away a sneaky tear.

Anyway, Marlowe won't have too long to wait for a new playmate as (being completely insane) I am travelling down to Max and Storm's on 26th April to pick out our new puppy!! first puppy I will have had since the age of 6!! - Patch and I have decided that when things get rough, we are going to retreat into the giant cage with cushions, a bottle of wine and a book and let the mayhem carry on around us!

So much for a "short post"!, but I know how much everyone has thought about the boy, so wanted to fill you in - all is quiet now, so he's probably eating my house, so I'd better go and check.

Thanks again to everyone who has been involved and followed Marlowe's progress. We'll be in touch - If we can manage it, I will try to get him up to the briard walk in Carlisle - if non briards are allowed!!

Take care everyone

Lots of love

Nikki xx

Ossie's JillMaster Friend

Joined: 23 Jul 2005
Posts: 365
Location: East Sussex

Posted:
Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:34 pm

Welcome to the site Nikki and four legged friends. Thank you so much for keeping us up to date, what a great post. Marlowe AKA Shaggy was clearly born under a luck star. A great doggy family and an owner with a sense of humour, which lets face it is needed with Briards...Can't wait to see the photos when the puppy arrives. Once you've done it you'll find posting photos really is easy and we'll all be waiting.

_________________RIP Ossie, best of dogs best of friends

gailFriend for Life

Joined: 20 Aug 2005
Posts: 830

Posted:
Tue Apr 15, 2014 2:01 pm

Hello Nikki,
Welcome to the FBC it does what it says on the tin. What a brilliant post, so pleased that Marlowe has landed on his paws, and even more impressed with the name change. Thanks for bringing us up to date, and good luck with your new puppy.
Gail

lizannesleyMaster Friend

Joined: 09 Jan 2005
Posts: 493
Location: Birmingham,England

Posted:
Tue Apr 15, 2014 4:12 pm

YAY Nikki....Welcome & thank you so much for updating us. Yes, love the name and I'm sure he'll start recognising it soon.
What sex/colour is the new addition? What a time you will have.....
Keep us informed. Can't wait for the photos.

maxnickFriend for Life

Joined: 16 Aug 2011
Posts: 959
Location: Cornwall

Posted:
Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:06 pm

Hi Nikki & Welcome to FBC, & welcome to Marlowe too & of course your honorary Briard 'Patch'
My o/h has been mithering me for ages saying, "Whats happening with Shaggy?", so I have now read him your 'short post'
He said " Sounds like he has a fantastic home there"
Can't wit to see pics. ( If you go to my post on 'Clouseau', I put a reference on how to post photos on a thread) Good Luck x

Welcome Nikki it sounds like Marlowe has landed on his feet yet again he is one lucky dog. I hope you have a long and happy life together. you will have your hands full with a puppy Briard too Patch will have his work cut out keeping them both in order
It would be fantastic if you could make it to the Carlisle walk all dogs are welcome I'd love to meet Marlowe in the flesh after seeing the photos of him in the first place in that horrible cage looking so sad, it would be great to see the happy chap he is now.
Yes please keep us updated with posts and pictures the kind and generous people on this site were fantastic when asked to help Shaggy and I'm sure we'd all appreciate the odd update.
Good Luck hope to see you soon
Brenda

_________________Brenda Kari-Ann Rigsby and Elsa

Nikki dogwalkerFriend in Training

Joined: 26 Mar 2014
Posts: 26

Posted:
Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:51 am

Many thanks everyone for your lovely posts, it was overwhelming to see how many people cared - restores your faith after knowing how awful other people can be.

I'm currently helping a little patterdale type bitch find a new home (fingers crossed, have a great one lined up, just organising introductions) who was rescued by a passing motorist when he saw her tied to a lamp post while a man kicked the s**t out of her, yet despite all that she is a sweet and loving little girl! Keep your paws crossed for her too.

Patch is beginning to get that resigned look now that says "I think this one might be here for a while", deep sigh!, and Marlowe has become resigned to the fact that the geriatric grump-box isn't going to tear arse found the garden with him - deep sigh!

However, we currently have a big bear of a tolerant choccy lab in residence and a pair of young (if grossly overweight) pugs, the boy being up for a chase anytime,(run puggy run!!!!) and so he is happy with that.

He spent the night out of the cage last night, without casualties to any possessions, so will soon be able to have the run of the house when alone - I just have to train myself to not leave things on work surfaces as he is as happy on 2 legs as 4!!

He is making loads of new friends, both doggy and human - and it is a tribute to his sweet nature that one man was so enamoured, he swept him off his feet into his arms and he just loved it - I'm afraid he's going to be the most apalling tart!! - no comments please from anyone who knows me personally!!!

While I am sitting upstairs tying this, all is quiet except for the gentle snoring of pugs!! and I am looking out on a beautiful sunny morning, so all is right with the world.

Will keep you 'posted'

Thanks again

Nikki

PS The new puppy will be a fawn boy - provisional name 'Matisse' - unless I take one look at him and say "Oh God, it's an Eric!"

Carol & DillonFriend for Life

Joined: 06 Nov 2009
Posts: 1036
Location: Sutton Coldfield

Posted:
Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:21 am

Hi Nikki, I'm so glad Marlowe has settled in so quickly and made friends with the others, really sounds as if his fallen on his paws with you.

Good luck with Matisse you're really in for some fun when he settles down.

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